Dispensing apparatus.



J. M. TRAVIS.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12.1915.

1,186,349; Patented June 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

TVITNESSES:

1. M. TRAVIS.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, I915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A T] DRIVE 1".

JOHN M. TRAVIS, or s'r; LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. TRAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State, of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, refer.- ence being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Myinvention has relation'to improvement in syrup dispensing apparatus;and it consists in the novel features of construction more fully setforth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The present improvement is directed to apparatus dispensing syrup forflavoring aerated beverages such as soda water, the object of theinvention being to provide a construction which will deliversubstantially uniform quantities of syrup for each glass of soda to beserved, irrespective of the quantity of syrup present in the containerfrom which these quantities are drawn. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which issusceptible of modification without departure from the principle ofoperation thereof; one which is simple, reliable and positlve in action,l ght and durable, and one possessing further and other advantagesbetter apparent from a detailed description of the invention inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa sideelevation of a dispens: ing device showing my invention applled thereto;Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion thereof, with partsbroken away; Fig. 3 is an enlarged middle vertical sectional detailtaken longitudinally of the valve-casing showing the valve in normalposition; Fig. k is a similar section with valve forced inward orunseated to discharging position; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on thezigzag line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a combined sectional and sideelevational view of a modification of the invention. Referring to thedrawings, and for the present to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 represents asuitable base or platform to which is fixed a preferably hollow standard,2, the upper end of the standard terminating in a collecting chamber 3formed between the upper open end of the standard and a partition wallor diaphragm 4 as shown (Figs. 3, The upper free end of the standard isprovided with a flange 5 formed with a marginal rim 6 forming an annularseat for a the chargmg opening 0 of the container,

said flange insuring against displacement of the cap-piece when oncedeposited on the container. The discharging end of the container isformed with a hollow neck or nipple 11 which fits snugly into the upperportion of the chamber 3, and when the container rests on the gasket 7,the free lower end of the nipple 11 reaches to, and is in a measuresupported by, the inner peripheral walls of the cylinder or valve-casing12 formed preferably integrally with the walls of the chamber 3, itbeing obvious of course that the casing 12 might be soldered orotherwise secured to the chamber walls, in lieu of forming the sameintegrally with said walls. The valve-casing 12 is preferablycylindrical, substantially one-half of the cylinder being in the chamber3 and one-half outside thereof, the axes of the cylinder'and chamberbeing transverse to one another. The-outer end of the valve-casing isclosed by a hollow screw-plug 13 which shoulders against the casing, theplug terminating in a head on behind which is formed an annular groove72, aflording a urchase for the first and middle fingers Fig. 1) leavingthe thumb to engage the outer terminal boss or enlarged terminal 6 ofthe valve-stem 1 L normally projecting beyond the head a. The stem 14:traverses the passage-way of the plug, being provided at a convenientpoint with an enlargement (Z for the support of a disk-valve member 15which, for a normal position of the valve rests against the annular seat712-. The disk 15 is held in place against the support (Z by thebasalflange t of the valve-stem extension 14' which is screwed over thescrew-stem u formed on the outer section 14 of the valve-stem, the twosections 14, 14, operating as a unit or as one stem. The inner end ofthe valve-stem is tapering, such tapered end being axial intake opening0 formed in the inner head of the valve-casing, the valve 15 being freeto traverse, the

V normally heldseated against the seat on by the expanding spring 16coiled about the valve stem section 14' and interposed between the innerhead of the valve-casing and 5 the flange t. The plug 13 is providedwith a discharge nozzle or spout 17. j

Screwed to the upper peripheral wall of the valve-casing or cylinder onthe axis of the chamber 3 is a hollow union. 18 to which is in turncoupled an air or vent pipe or tube 19 extending along the axis of thecontainer to a point above the highest level of the liquid or syrup inthe container, said level being indicated by the line 00 in Fig. 2,

a lower level being indicated by w. The

lower end. or portion ofthe vent tube 19 is screw-tlii readed, and oversaid portion is passed. a perforated disk 20, said disk serving as ameans for clamping the container go or globe 8 tightly to its gasket 7,the perforations c in the disk allovvingthe liquid to flow from thecontainer into the collecting chamber 3, whence it flows through theopening 0 into the cylinder or valve-casin 12. The membersl, 14', may beregarded as a component part of a piston-valve, the

piston element 6 thereof operating in the passage-way of the plug 13which may be regarded as an extension of the cylinder 12 80 proper, saidcylinder being for convenience denominated as the dispensing member,since it is the valve thereof which is depended on to discharge ordispense predetermined quantities of syrup or other liquid 85 with eachinward movement of the valve.

- The cross-section of the vent tube 19 is such that the liquid contentsthereof has no material efiect on the contents delivered from thecylinder 12, be the said tube full or only partially so as a result of afull or partly full condition of the container 8. This will be apparentfrom a description of the operation of the-invention, which issubstantially as follows:

The normal position. of the parts is represented in Figs. 1 and. 3, theport or opening 0 of the cylinder 12 being open, thus allowing the syrupwhich flows into, and col lects in, the chamber 3 to fill the cylinder12, the liquid in the cylinder rising into the vent-tube 19 until it iseven with the level an of theliquid in the container 8. The operator bypassing his forefinger and middle finger across the groove it behind thehead a,

can use his thumb (Fig. 1) to engage the boss or terminal 6 of thevalve-stem or piston-valve and push the same inwardly. This actioncloses the port 0 (Fig. 4) and unseats the disk :valve 15, therebyallowing 6 the contents of the cylinder 12 and vent-tube 19 to flow intothe plug 13 and out through the spout or nozzle 17 into a tumbler (notshown) held under the nozzle to receive the syrup. With the inwardmovement of the 55 valve-stem or piston-valve, the spring 16 is -ply 8).

compressed, the expansion of the spring upon release of the valve-stemforcing the latter outwardly to normal position and causing the valve 15to resume its position on the seat m, thereby cutting off communi- 7ocation between the plug 13 and the cylinder 12. Thus with each inwardmovement or stroke of the valve there is discharged'not only thecontents of the cylinder 12, but that of the vent tube 19 (previouslyfilled by liquid flowing thereinto from the chamber 3 and the containeror initial source of sup- As the liquid in the container 8 drops, sayfrom a level a: to a level 00 (Fig. 2), the quantity dispensed willnaturally be decreased by an amount represented bythe cubic contents ofthat portion of the. venttube between the levels :0, r, a quantity whichhowever is negligible because having no appreciable effect on thequantity stored in the cylinder 12, whose cubic capacity is far inexcess of that of the tube 19; and whether the contents ofa full tube orpartially full tube (such as 19) be added to that stored in the cylinder12 can make littledif- 9 ference in the practical uniformity .in thequantity dispensed or discharged with each inward movement of the valve,the cubic capacity of the members 19, 12, being so pro portioned thatwhether the tube 19 dischargesinto the cylinder, a column of liquidequal to the full height or only a partial height of the tube, noappreciable diflerence in the volume dispensed can result.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the valve member controls twoports or openings, to wit, the port 0, and the passage of the plug 13,the inner end of the valve, opening the port oand seating the valve disk15 with an outward stroke, and closing the port 0 and unseating thevalve-disk with an inward stroke or movement, the cylinder 12 and somuch of the vent tube 19 which is below the level of the liquid in thecontainer 8, filling with an outward movement of the valve-member, saidquaptity being released and discharged with an inward stroke of thevalve member, in which stroke said valve member cuts off commit.nication between the source of. supply (or rather the chamber 3 whichis in permanent communication therewith) and the cylinder 12.

The uniformity in the quantity of liquid dispensed with a given strokeof the valve, 1 may. be insured to even a more marked degree by causinga uniform material influx of'liquid into the cylinder 12 on such stroke,

irrespective of the level. of liquid in the container. Thus, in themodification in Fig. 6, 12 T attach to the union 18 a tube 50 to whichis coupled an equalizer or storage receptacle 51 from which in turnleads the vent-tube 52 proper. It will be seen from this modificationthat irrespective of the height of the 339 liquid to the portioncontained in the cylinder, as to make the combined contents of themembers 12 and 51 practically uniform irrespective of the variations inthe column of liquid in the abbreviated vent tube 52. In other respectsthe construction in Fig. 6 is the same as that of the form firstdescribed, the several parts being identified by the same referencesymbols.

I do not of course wish to be restricted to the details here shownas'they may in a measure be departed from without affecting the natureor spirit of my invention. Ob viously the apparatus need not berestricted to dispensing syrup but may dispense any liquid whatsoever.

Having described my invention what- I claim is: 4

1. In a liquid dispenser, a suitable hollow standard open at one end, acontainer provided with a discharge neck fitting telescopically to theopen end of the standard and making a tight joint therewith, a valvecasing on the standard positioned below the container and the neckthereof, means for conducting the liquid from the container to thevalve-casing through one end of the latter, a vent-tube leading from thevalve-casing axially through the container and terminating above thesurface of the liquid in the container, therebeing a discharge port inthe valve-casing opposite the intake port, and a valve controlling theinflux of the liquid into, and discharges of the liquid from, thecasing.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a suitable hollow standard open at one end, acontainermounted at said open end, a valve-casing on the standardpositioned below the container, means for conducting the liquid fromthecontainer to said valve casing, a vent-tube leading from thevalve-casing into the container and terminating above the surface of theliquid in the container, means adjustable on the tube for clamping thecontainer to the standard against displacement, and a valve forcontrolling the discharges from the valve-casing.

3. In combination with a fixed support, a standard leading therefrom andprovided with an upper terminal chamber removed a. suitable distancefrom the support, a liquid container mounted above, and discharging intosaid chamber, a valve-casing on the standard communicating with saidchamber,-

a vent-tube leading from the valve-casingthrough the container andterminating at the top above the surface of the liquid in the container,means on the tube disposed about the axis of the container for clampingthe container to the standard, and a valve in the casing forsimultaneously controlling the flow of the liquid from said chamber intothe valve-casing, and the discharge of the liquid from the valve-casing.

'4. In combination with a member provided with a liquid collectingchamber open.

at the top, 'a containerresting on the chamber walls and discharginginto the chamber, a valve-casing communicating with the chamber, andmeans disposed about the axis of the container carried by thevalve-casing and engaging the containerwalls on the 'inside for clampingthe container to the walls of the collecting chamber.

5. In a liquid dispenser, a suitable standard provided with an upperterminal tubular collecting chamber, a liquid container resting on theopen end of the chamber and provided with a hollow neck or nippleinserted in said chamber, a cylindrical valvecasing having its axisdisposed transversely to the axis of the chamber and projecting partlyinto and partly outside of said chamber, the inner head of the cylinderbeing provided with a central port opening into the chamber, an air orvent tube, leading from the cylinder or valve-casing and dis-- posedalong the axis of the collecting cham, ber, said tube extending axiallythrough the container and terminating above the level of the liquidtherein, a perforateddisk on the vent-tube engaging the inner wall ofthe container above the base of theneck thereof aforesaid for clampingthe container to the walls of the collecting chamber,

a tubular extension on the cylinder or valvecasing provided with adischarge nozzle, and a sprin -controlled piston valve mounted in saidextension and in the valve-casing for controlling the cylinder portaforesaid, and likewise controlling communication between the cylinderand the extension thereof, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. TRAVIS,

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, Jos. A. MICHEL.

